Burma After Ne Win

By

Aung Zaw

Updated March 15, 2002 12:01 a.m. ET

Burma's military rulers have stunned the world again in recent days. This time not by massacring thousands of innocent democracy protesters, as was the case in 1988, but by announcing the arrest of members of the nation's previously untouchable elite -- the family of former Burmese strongman Gen. Ne Win.

Ever since the arrests began on March 7, events have unfolded almost like a strange magic show in which the puppets suddenly turn on their master. The puppets in this case being members of the country's ruling State Peace...